Wisconsin Interim Psychologist Requirements & Hours Tracker

Wisconsin’s “interim psychologist” license is a formal, time‑limited credential issued by the Wisconsin Psychology Examining Board under Wis. Stat. § 455.04(2) and Wis. Admin. Code Psy 2.012. It allows a doctoral‑level trainee to practice psychology in Wisconsin only under supervision while completing the remaining steps toward full psychologist licensure. (law.justia.com)

Below is a structured guide based directly on the current statute and board rules, with the state’s own wording highlighted where it matters.

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1. What “interim psychologist” means in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Administrative Code defines:

• “Interim psychologist”: “a person licensed under s. 455.04 (2), Stats.” (law.cornell.edu)

The interim license is not a separate profession; it is a transitional license for individuals who are on the path to full psychologist licensure but are not yet fully licensed.

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2. Core eligibility requirements

Under Wis. Stat. § 455.04(2), the Psychology Examining Board must grant an interim psychologist license to an individual who:

1. Applies and pays the fee

   • Submits “an application for the license” and
   • Pays “the fee specified under s. 440.05 (6)”. (law.justia.com)

2. Meets the same basic qualifications as a psychologist for age, background, and degree You must satisfy the psychologist‑license requirements in § 455.04(1)(a)–(c):

   • Age: “Be at least 18 years of age.” (law.justia.com)
   • Background: Subject to employment discrimination laws, you must “not have a conviction record” that is substantially related to the practice (the board will evaluate this). (law.justia.com)
   • Doctoral degree:
     • Hold “a doctoral degree in psychology from a program accredited by an organization approved by the examining board”; or
     • Have other academic training that the board determines to be “substantially equivalent on the basis of standards established by rule.” (law.justia.com)

   The parallel rule for the interim license (Psy 2.012) restates this as requiring either:

   • An official transcript indicating a doctoral degree in psychology from a program accredited by:
     • American Psychological Association, or
     • Canadian Psychological Association, or
     • “Any other organization approved by the examining board”;
       or
   • “Academic training that the examining board determines to be substantially equivalent to a doctoral degree in psychology based on the standards established in s. Psy 2.09.” (law.cornell.edu)

3. Complete at least 1,500 internship hours after coursework

   For an interim psychologist license, you must already have completed the internship portion of the supervised experience:

   • The statute requires, for psychologists generally, “at least 3,000 hours of supervised graduate‑level experience in the practice of psychology”. These supervised hours must consist of: (law.justia.com)

     • “At least 1,500 hours of experience in a successfully completed internship, which shall be accrued after the completion of all doctoral level coursework” (§ 455.04(1)(d)1); and
     • At least 1,500 additional supervised hours from specified categories (pre‑internship, extra internship hours, post‑internship pre‑degree, postdoctoral). (§ 455.04(1)(d)2.a–d). (law.justia.com)

   • For the interim license specifically, § 455.04(2) requires that you satisfy § 455.04(1)(d)1 only, meaning:

     • You must already have completed “at least 1,500 hours of experience in a successfully completed internship,”
     • Those 1,500 hours must be “accrued after the completion of all doctoral level coursework.” (law.justia.com)

   • The board’s rule Psy 2.012(1)(d) mirrors this:

     “Evidence of a completed internship of at least 1,500 hours after the completion of all doctoral level coursework. Completion of all doctoral level coursework means all required courses associated with the doctoral degree are completed, unless otherwise determined by the board or its designee.” (law.cornell.edu)

   So in hour terms, Wisconsin’s requirement to qualify for the interim psychologist license is:

   • 1,500 hours of internship experience,
   • Completed after all doctoral coursework is finished,
   • As part of the broader 3,000 supervised hours required ultimately for full psychologist licensure.

4. Pass the required exam(s)

   The interim license requires you to meet the psychologist‑license requirement in § 455.04(1)(f):

   • Pass the exam under § 455.045(1)(b), which is the Wisconsin jurisprudence exam (state law and rules related to practice). (law.justia.com)

   The board rule Psy 2.012(1)(e) states you must show “evidence of passing score on the jurisprudence exam.” (law.cornell.edu)

   Note: For full licensure, you must also pass the EPPP (Exam for Professional Practice in Psychology) under § 455.04(1)(e), but § 455.04(2) does not require that exam to be completed in order to obtain the interim license. (law.justia.com)

5. Criminal history and fitness documentation

   Psy 2.012 additionally requires that you provide:

   • “Documentation necessary for the Board to determine” whether you have:
     • A pending charge for an “exempt offense” or “a violent crime against a child” that is substantially related to practice; or
     • Been “convicted of a crime substantially related to the practice of a psychologist.”
   • “Fingerprint or other biometric-based information” so the board can obtain your criminal history from the Wisconsin DOJ and FBI. (law.cornell.edu)

   These requirements are subject to Wisconsin’s employment‑discrimination protections in Wis. Stat. §§ 111.321, 111.322, 111.335. (law.cornell.edu)

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3. Step‑by‑step: How to obtain the interim psychologist license

Step 1 – Complete your doctoral coursework in psychology

• Finish all required doctoral‑level coursework toward your psychology doctorate.
• Ensure your program is:
  • Accredited by APA or CPA; or
  • Another board‑approved accreditor; or
  • Determined substantially equivalent under Psy 2.09. (law.cornell.edu)

Step 2 – Complete at least 1,500 internship hours

• Undertake a doctoral internship in psychology that:
  • Is at least 1,500 hours in total;
  • Is successfully completed; and
  • Is accrued after completion of all doctoral coursework. (law.justia.com)

This internship also counts toward the 3,000 supervised graduate‑level hours ultimately required for full psychologist licensure. (law.justia.com)

Step 3 – Pass the Wisconsin jurisprudence exam

• Take and pass the jurisprudence exam, which the code defines as the “board approved examination on the state law related to the practice of psychology.” (law.cornell.edu)

Step 4 – Prepare required documentation

You will need, at minimum:

• Completed and signed application form for interim psychologist (Psy 2.012(1)(a)). (law.cornell.edu)
• Application fee authorized by Wis. Stat. § 440.05(6) (Psy 2.012(1)(b)). (law.cornell.edu)
• Official transcript showing:
  • Doctoral degree in psychology from an accredited or board‑approved program; or
  • Evidence of academic training the board deems substantially equivalent. (Psy 2.012(1)(c); § 455.04(1)(c)). (law.cornell.edu)
• Internship documentation:
  • Proof of “a completed internship of at least 1,500 hours after the completion of all doctoral level coursework” (Psy 2.012(1)(d)). (law.cornell.edu)
• Evidence of passing the jurisprudence exam (Psy 2.012(1)(e)). (law.cornell.edu)
• Criminal‑history materials:
  • Any required self‑disclosure about past or pending charges/convictions;
  • Fingerprints or biometric information for a DOJ/FBI background check. (Psy 2.012(1)(f)–(g)). (law.cornell.edu)

Step 5 – Submit application to the Wisconsin DSPS / Psychology Examining Board

• File your application and fee with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS), which administers the board.
• The board will verify that you meet:
  • Age and background requirements;
  • Degree and internship requirements;
  • Jurisprudence exam requirement;
  • Documentation and fingerprint requirements.

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4. What you are allowed to do once licensed as an interim psychologist

Under Wis. Stat. § 455.04(2), a person licensed as an interim psychologist:

• May provide psychological services only under supervision:

  “An individual licensed under this subsection may provide psychological services only under the supervision of qualified supervisors, as determined by the examining board.” (law.justia.com)

Key implications:

• You cannot practice independently.
• Your supervisor must meet the board’s criteria for a “qualified supervisor” (defined in board rules for supervised experience, mainly in Psy 2.10). (regulations.justia.com)
• Your work under the interim license is part of your progression toward meeting the full 3,000 supervised hours and other requirements for permanent psychologist licensure.

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5. Duration and renewal of the interim license

Standard term

Under Psy 2.012(2):

• “An interim psychologist license issued under s. 455.04 (2), Stats., is valid for 2 years or until the individual obtains a psychologist license under s. 455.04 (1), Stats, whichever is earlier.” (law.cornell.edu)
• “An individual holding an interim psychologist license is not required to complete continuing education.” (law.cornell.edu)

Hardship renewal (discretionary)

Another rule, Psy 4.017(6), allows the board, at its discretion, to renew an interim psychologist license in cases of hardship:

• “The board may renew at its discretion an interim psychologist license upon a showing of hardship by the applicant.”
• Examples of hardship include:
  • Sickness of the applicant or an immediate family member;
  • Death in the immediate family;
  • Temporary military service;
  • “Other good reason deemed acceptable by the board.” (law.cornell.edu)

The board can request additional documentation such as:

• Attestation that you have a qualified supervisor as provided by § 455.04(2).
• Documentation of relevant training, education, or supervised experience completed while holding the interim license. (law.cornell.edu)

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6. Relationship to full psychologist licensure and hours breakdown

Wisconsin’s psychologist‑licensure framework is centered on 3,000 hours of supervised graduate‑level experience in the practice of psychology. (law.justia.com)

The statute divides these hours as follows:

1. 1,500 hours – Internship hours

   • “At least 1,500 hours of experience in a successfully completed internship, which shall be accrued after the completion of all doctoral level coursework.” (§ 455.04(1)(d)1). (law.justia.com)

2. 1,500 hours – Additional supervised experience

   • At least 1,500 hours consisting of a board‑defined combination of:
     • Pre‑internship hours (after year one of the doctoral program or after a master’s degree in psychology or equivalent);
     • Excess internship hours above the initial 1,500;
     • Post‑internship pre‑degree hours;
     • Postdoctoral hours after conferral of the doctoral degree. (§ 455.04(1)(d)2.a–d). (law.justia.com)

For the interim psychologist license:

• You must have already completed the first 1,500 internship hours (after coursework) and passed the jurisprudence exam, but you do not yet need the second 1,500 hours or the EPPP. (law.justia.com)
• While practicing under the interim license (under supervision), you can accumulate additional supervised hours toward the full 3,000‑hour requirement, depending on how your training is structured and how the board classifies those hours.

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7. Concise hour‑focused summary in the board’s own terms

To be licensed as an interim psychologist in Wisconsin, you must, in terms of hours and statutory language:

• Have completed “at least 1,500 hours of experience in a successfully completed internship, which shall be accrued after the completion of all doctoral level coursework” (§ 455.04(1)(d)1). (law.justia.com)
• That internship must be documented as “a completed internship of at least 1,500 hours after the completion of all doctoral level coursework” (Psy 2.012(1)(d)). (law.cornell.edu)
• These 1,500 hours are one half of the “at least 3,000 hours of supervised graduate-level experience in the practice of psychology” you ultimately need for full psychologist licensure (§ 455.04(1)(d)). (law.justia.com)
• Under the interim license, you may provide “psychological services only under the supervision of qualified supervisors” (§ 455.04(2)). (law.justia.com)

That is the specific, hour‑based and verbatim framework the Wisconsin Psychology Examining Board and statutes use for the interim psychologist license.